426 



Jalgaon Sorglmm firstly may maintain its yielding capacityf under 

 our local soil and climate conditions, secondly that transplaiiting in- 

 oreases the yield of grain. 



Allowing for paths aiid computing one acre at 40,000 feet, we 

 should come to the following figures: 



Transplanted plot: 280 square feet 15 Ihs. 5 ozs. of dry grain. 



Sown plot: 280 square feet 5 lbs. 



One acre — 714 pounds dry grain. 



Tn the light of the foregoing averages for India viz. 500 to 900 

 lb. per acre, the figure for the transplanted plot appears absolutely 

 abnormal ; but, then, so was the size and weight of the panicles. 

 One, among the numl)er, weighing 3^ ounces was found after pick- 

 ing the seeds one by one, to give 2i ounces of seeds, the rachis weigh- 

 ing one ounce. 



E. H. Mathieu. 



A NOTE UPON PLANTS GROWN FOR BLUE DYES 

 IN THE NORTH OF THE MALAY PENINSULA, 



Within the last few years a little information ha:; reached the 

 Botanic Gardens upon plants raised in the north of the Peninsula 

 for the sake of the blue dye that they yield ; and three liave been 

 submitted for determination being:- — ■ 



1 7\ dig of era suffruticosa, Mill. 

 Strobilanthes flaccidifolius, N'ees, and 

 Marfidenia tinctoria, R. Br. 



The first two of tlie three were sent from the state of Kelantan by 

 Mr. E. J. Farrer, the latter two of the three from Upper Perak by 

 Captain H. Berkeley. All three are well kno\vn as dye-plants ; but 

 as a dyeing industry flickers only within the Peninsula, it is in- 

 teresting to ask what influence may have brought them into culti- 

 vation here. 



Indigo cultivation has a long and a very complicated history; 

 and the above named species of Indigofera is one only of half a dozen 

 gro'^vn in different parts of the world. Indigo, almost certainly im- 

 ported, was used as a dye in ancient Egypt; for mummy clothes of 

 2300 B.C. have been found dyed with it. It was prepared in ancient 

 India, and finds mention in the Sanskrit writings of aliiDut the same 

 period. It was an expensive import of Pome at the commencement 

 of the Christian era, coming from India via Alexandria, and bear- 

 ing the name " indicum " from its source. It is extremely probable 

 that Ancient Egypt also got it^ indigo from India. 



t Misfortune attmded an attrmpt to r^peat this experiment ; for rain fell 

 heavily at harvest destroyinp the prhin ; and it is feared that the cbmate of 

 Singapore in too unreliable foi the f top; but in the north of the ' eninsula if 

 maturitv he aimed at in February the chances of a return would appear good. 

 I. H. BURKILL. 



